A few months ago, my uncle was having troubles trying to start his [censored] leaf blower and asked if I could look at it. I confirmed it was getting spark, so I assumed it wasn’t getting fuel. I bought a new carb, installed it, and it still wouldn’t start. I sprayed starting fluid in the cylinder and still nothing. At this point, I KNEW it was getting spark and fuel, so the only thing left was compression. I tore the engine down, and sure enough, the piston ring was stuck in the groove and ground down until it was flush with the side of the piston. I could easily insert the piston in and out of the cylinder without having to compress the piston ring. I put it back together and told my uncle. He took it to the Sears repair center and they confirmed it was still under warranty, so they replaced the piston and ring for free. The blower is still working…for now.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago: MY Craftsman leaf blower (not my uncle's) broke the spring in the throttle lever, so the throttle kept falling down to idle and would stall the engine. The only way to fix it is to buy a whole new carb with a throttle lever attached. The one they sent me was slightly different, apparently they revised the levers (I wonder why…)
Fast forward to yesterday: About a week ago, my mother was using the blower and it simply died and wouldn’t start up again. She tried using it again yesterday, but it still wouldn’t start. The carb is new, but I sprayed starting fluid in it anyway. Still no go. Hmm…seems like I’ve ran into this problem before. I tore the engine down and sure enough there was hardly anything left of the piston ring.
Both blowers have always had the proper 40:1 mix of oil and fuel and were well maintained. Both of them barely made it 3 years before munching the piston rings and losing compression. My uncle’s last Craftsman leaf blower also only made it about 3 years. That, combined with starting problems since day one on mine, and the tube always falling out from vibration (I had to duct tape it in place), has turned me off of Craftsman OPE forever. I really wish I researched a little more before I bought it and I would’ve seen all the bad reviews online. Cheap, made in China garbage. Currently shopping around for an Echo or Stihl.
These pics were taken when I tore my uncle's blower apart. I didn't take any photos of mine.
Score marks on cylinder wall:
Fast forward to a few weeks ago: MY Craftsman leaf blower (not my uncle's) broke the spring in the throttle lever, so the throttle kept falling down to idle and would stall the engine. The only way to fix it is to buy a whole new carb with a throttle lever attached. The one they sent me was slightly different, apparently they revised the levers (I wonder why…)
Fast forward to yesterday: About a week ago, my mother was using the blower and it simply died and wouldn’t start up again. She tried using it again yesterday, but it still wouldn’t start. The carb is new, but I sprayed starting fluid in it anyway. Still no go. Hmm…seems like I’ve ran into this problem before. I tore the engine down and sure enough there was hardly anything left of the piston ring.
Both blowers have always had the proper 40:1 mix of oil and fuel and were well maintained. Both of them barely made it 3 years before munching the piston rings and losing compression. My uncle’s last Craftsman leaf blower also only made it about 3 years. That, combined with starting problems since day one on mine, and the tube always falling out from vibration (I had to duct tape it in place), has turned me off of Craftsman OPE forever. I really wish I researched a little more before I bought it and I would’ve seen all the bad reviews online. Cheap, made in China garbage. Currently shopping around for an Echo or Stihl.
These pics were taken when I tore my uncle's blower apart. I didn't take any photos of mine.
Score marks on cylinder wall:
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